To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a)new stations were opened and (b) miles of track were restored to use for passenger services in each of the years between 1985–86 and 1997–98.[73170]

The table shows the number of new stations opened in each of the years between 1985–86 and 1997–98. Statistics from 1994 onwards were supplied by Railtrack, which was established on 1 April 1994 and privatised on 20 May 1996.

Year	Stations opened
1985	19
1986	4
1987	6
1988	23
1989	15
1990	20
1991	6
1992	15
1993	14
1994	16
1995	10
1996	4
1997	3
1998	8

The British Railways Board has no central record of annual mileage of track restored to use for passenger services. Since 1994, Railtrack have restored 37 miles of track to passenger use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department has taken to facilitate speedier delivery of PCV licences via the DVLA in Swansea. [73096]

All applications for vocational (lorry and bus driver) licences are given high priority by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The current service standard target is to deliver 95 per cent. of licences to applicants within 9 working days of receipt which includes postage time. The Agency is currently bettering this target by one day. The remaining applications—which are subject to conduct investigations by the Traffic Commissioners or medical consideration by the Agency's doctors—are normally cleared within 20 working days.Applications can be submitted in multi-batches by training organisations and special provisions exist for licences to be collected from the Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his current estimate of the total cost of constructing the Jubilee Line extension; and if he will make a statement on the changes since his previous estimate. [73001]

London Transport's current estimate of the total cost of constructing the Jubilee Line Extension is £3.2 billion. The estimate referred to in my response of 4 November 1998, Official Report, column 567, was based on a cost review undertaken in August 1998 before the completion date was revised and a three-phase opening strategy adopted.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list for each (1) unitary authority, (2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council (a)the real terms percentage increase in standard spending assessment between 1997–98 and 1998–99, (b) the real terms percentage increase in Revenue Support Grant between 1997–98 and 1998–99, (c) the value of reduction grants received in 1998–99, (d) the real terms percentage increase in non-domestic rate income between 1997–98 and 1998–99 and (e) the real terms percentage increase in total external support between 1997–98 and 1998–99; [73643](2) if he will list for each (1) unitary authority, (2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council

The information requested has been placed in the Library.The real terms percentage difference between the data for 1997–98 and 1998–99 has been deflated by the GDP deflator, and expressed in terms of the 1998–99 equivalent. "Total External Support" has been defined as the sum of Revenue Support Grant, income from Non-Domestic Rates and Damping Grants. The data used for 1997–98 refer to the RSG calculated using the Adjusted 1997–98 SSAs.The 1997–98 SSAs have been adjusted for: Local Government Reorganisation on 1 April 1998; the Personal Social Services SSA have been adjusted to include the indicative Special Transitional Grant for Community Care; and the Education SSA have been adjusted to include the deduction for nursery vouchers.No adjustments have been made for the changes detailed in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997/1998: Amending Report 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each (1) unitary authority, (2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council (a) the real terms (i) percentage and (ii) cash increase in standard spending assessment between 1998–99 and 1999–2000, (b) the real terms (i) percentage and (ii) cash increase in revenue support grant between 1998–99 and 1999–2000, (c) the value of reduction grants that will be received in 1999–2000, (d)the real terms (i) percentage and (ii) cash increase in non-domestic rate income between 1998–99 and 1999–2000 and (e)the real terms (i) percentage and (ii) cash increase in total external support between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [73645]

The information requested has been placed in the Library.The real terms percentage difference between the data for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 has been deflated by the GDP deflator, and expressed in terms of the 1999–2000 equivalent."Total External Support" has been defined as the sum of Revenue Support Grant, income from Non-Domestic Rates and Damping Grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list for each (1) unitary authority, (2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council the real terms cash and percentage change between (A) 1997–98 and 1998–99 and (B) 1998–99 and 1999–2000 in (i) standard spending assessment and (ii) revenue support grant for (a) education services, (b) social services, (c) highways maintenance, (d) police services and (e) fire services; [73352](2) if he will list for each (1) unitary authority, (2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council what percentage of the real terms cash change between (A) 1997–98 and 1998–99 and (B) 1998–99 and 1999–2000 in (i) standard spending assessment and (ii) revenue support grant has been ring-fenced for

A table showing the real terms cash change figures together with a table showing the real terms change figures expressed as a percentage of total standard spending assessment for the education block, the personal social services block, the highways maintenance block, the police block and the fire block have been placed in the library.The 19897–98 SSAs have been adjusted for: Local Government Reorganisation on 1 April 1998: the Personal Social Services SSA have been adjusted to include the indicative Special Transitional Grant for Community Care; and the Education SSA have been adjusted to include the deduction for nursery vouchers.No adjustments have been made for the changes detailed in The Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98: Amending Report 1999.Although Standard Spending Assessments are determined for individual blocks of services, there is no obligation on authorities to adopt a similar pattern of spending; the SSAs are not ring-fenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each (1) unitary authority,(2) shire county, (3) shire district, (4) metropolitan district and (5) London borough council their proposed Band D council tax rates for 1999–2000. [73379]

The information requested is not yet available. The tax setting legislation gives Shire County Councils until 1 March to set a budget and issue a precept on their billing authorities for the year ahead. The other authorities listed have until 11 March to set a budget and council tax rates. In both instances, the authorities are required to inform me of their decisions within 7 days of taking them. As a result, my department intends to publish a Statistical Bulletin in the week beginning 22 March giving the council tax rates at each band that have been set for 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the threat of retaliatory measures against Concorde flights from Britain to the US following the imposition of environmental measures to ban hush-kit aircraft from the 1 April 2002 in Europe. [73971]

We have received representation from British Airways. The European Union draft Regulation on Hushkitted aircraft, which has passed its second reading in the European parliament, has not yet been adopted by the Council of Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the section of railway line from Warcop to Appleby in Cumbria was sold; to whom; and for what price. [73951]

The railway line from Warcop to Appleby was transferred to Sustrans for a nominal sum in May 1998 for use as a cycle path as part of the National Cycle Network. The transfer is subject to arrangements for shared use of the line with the Eden Valley Railway who are acquiring part of the trackbed from Sustrans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated annual cost to local authorities for the removal of chewing gum from paved areas; and if he will make a statement. [73895]

Information on the cost to local authorities for the removal of chewing gum from paved areas is not collected centrally. The total cost of street cleansing for the local authorities in England 1997–98 was £342 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each notifiable authority in England the band D council tax for 1999–2000 and the change over that for 1998–99 in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms. [73928]

The information requested is not yet available. The tax setting legislation gives major precepting authorities until 1 March to set a budget and issue a precept on their billing authorities for the year ahead and other authorities until 11 March to set their budgets and council tax rates. In both instances, the authorities are required to inform the Secretary of State of their decisions within 7 days of taking them. As a result, my department intends to publish a Statistical Bulletin in the week beginning 22 March giving the council tax rates that have been set at each band for 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry over the potential for carbon emission reductions which could be achieved by extending until 2002 the powers of the Director General of Gas Supply to set standards of performance with regard to the promotion of the efficient use of gas. [74284]

Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Department of Trade and Industry regularly discuss matters in which both Departments have an interest, including energy efficiency. These discussions are informal and private.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what total level of investment in domestic energy efficiency he estimates will be required between now and 2010 in order to meet (a) the Kyoto 12.5 per cent. carbon dioxide reduction target and (b) a 20 per cent. target. [74288]

Our UK Climate Change Programme Consultation Paper discussed and invited comment on how the UK could meet its climate change objectives, including possible contributions from domestic energy efficiency. The Government are now considering responses and will develop and consult further on a new climate change programme for the UK in the light of this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recognition will be given within planning projections for new housing over the next two decades to requirements for socially rented housing; and if he will make a statement. [74189]

The latest household projections published in 1995 identify the number of households expected to form over the period 1991–2016 but not the tenure of the housing they might occupy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date he received the report of the inspector into the application by the Ffestiniog Railway company to re-open the Welsh Highland Railway between Dinas and Porthmadog; and what was the average time taken by ministers to make a decision of such reports in the past three years. [74298]

The Inspector's report following the public inquiry into the Welsh Highland Railway was received on 22 April 1998. In those five Transport and Works Act cases where decisions have been taken by the Secretary of State in the last three years following a public inquiry, the average time has been between 12 and 13 months from receipt of the Inspector's report. Four reports are currently before the Secretary of State for determination in addition to that for the Welsh Highland Railway. These reports were received on 6 October 1997, 2 February 1998 (interim decision letter issued on 8 September 1998), 6 February 1998 and 23 February 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which have successfully completed a large-scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock to date. [74156]

[holding answer 2 March 1999]: Seventy-seven local authorities have successfully completed eighty-four large scale voluntary transfers of all or part of their housing stock to date. A list of those authorities is set out in chronological order.

• Chiltern DC
• Sevenoaks DC
• Newbury DC
• Swale BC
• Broadland DC
• Bedford BC
• Medina DC (now part of Isle of Wight Unitary Authority)
• Rochester upon Medway CC
• South Wight (now part of Isle of Wight Unitary Authority)
• Mid Sussex DC
• East Dorset DC
• Tonbridge & Malling BC
• Ryedale DC
• South Bucks DC
• Christchurch BC
• Suffolk Coastal DC
• Tunbridge Wells BC
• London Borough of Bromley
• Surrey Heath BC
• Breckland DC
• Rushmoor BC
• North Wiltshire DC
• Spelthorne BC
• East Hampshire DC
• Hastings BC
• Eastleigh BC
• Wyre BC
• Walsall MBC
• Manchester CC¹
• Stratford DC
• West Wiltshire DC
• Cotswold DC
• South Staffordshire DC
• Lichfield DC
• South Oxfordshire DC
• Eden DC
• London Borough of Lambeth¹
• London Borough of Bexley
• East Cambridgeshire DC
• Hambleton DC
• West Dorset DC
• Havant BC
• Epsom & Ewell BC
• Hart DC
• South Shropshire DC
• Leominster DC
• South Ribble BC
• Hertsmere BC
• Penwith DC
• North Dorset DC
• Wychavon DC
• Mid Bedfordshire DC
• Thanet DC
• Vale of White Horse DC
• Cherwell DC
• Basingstoke & Deane BC
• Malvern Hills DC
• Maldon DC
• Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
• Kennet DC
• Congleton BC
• Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council¹
• Liverpool City Council¹
• Kerrier DC
• London Borough of Merton¹
• London Borough of Tower Hamlets¹
• West Somerset DC
• London Borough of Hackney¹
• London Borough of Brent¹
• Basildon DC¹
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council¹
• Tewkesbury BC
• Rother DC
• Wirral BC¹

Red routes in London by borough
	1992		1995		1997
	Miles	Kms	Miles	Kms	Miles	Kms
Barking and Dagenham	4	6.4	4	6.4	4	6.4
Barnet	19.1	30.1	19.1	30.1	19.1	30.1
Bexley	8.6	13.8	8.6	13.8	8.6	13.8
Brent	3.4	5.5	3.4	5.5	3.4	5.5
Bromley	12	19.3	12	19.3	12	19.3
Camden	7.1	11.4	5.5	8.8	5.5	8.8
City	1.2	1.9	1.2	1.9	1.2	1.9
Croydon	13.2	21.2	13.2	21.2	13.2	21.2

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the amount of compensation awarded to British transport companies affected as a result of French transport strikes; what proportion of overall claims have been settled; and what representations to the French Government he has made. [74437]

Some 1,200 British claims were made in respect of the 1996 French lorry drivers' strike. We understand that some 25 per cent. have so far received a favourable response. Precise figures are not available because claims were not dealt with centrally in France but were dealt with by Prefectures in the Departments in which blockades occurred. For the same reason, information about the amount of compensation paid is not available. We continue to work with the French authorities to secure the timely and fair consideration of claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received in respect of the performance of train operating companies. [72480]

Since January, my Department and the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising have received almost 400 representations on the performance of train operating companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current mileage of red routes in each London borough; what was the figure for each of the last five years; and what is the anticipated figure for 1999–2000. [73764]

The red route network was designated by Statutory Instrument in 1992 (SI 1992/1372). The breakdown by borough is given in the table. Since 1992 the SI has been amended twice (SI 1995/1130 and SI 1997/1001) to make small changes to the network in Ealing, Haringey, Hackney, Hillingdon and Lewisham and to correct minor descriptive errors. The programme for the implementation of the red route measures is set out in the Traffic Director's Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the length of bus lane for each London borough; what was the figure for each of the past five years; and what is the anticipated figure for 1999–2000. [73765]

I have placed the information requested in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current mileage of cycle lanes in London broken down by borough; what were the figures for (a) 1989–90 and (b) 1993–94; and what are the expected figures for 1999–2000. [73823]

The information requested on the length of cycle lanes for the years 1989–90 and 1993–94 is not available. This is before the work on the London Cycle Network commenced and therefore no central body existed to gather and co-ordinate the data. Approximately 190 miles of cycle network were in place when work started on the London Cycle Network in 1995–96; however, it is not known what proportion consisted of cycle lanes. The following table shows the existing lengths of the London Cycle Network on a borough-by-borough basis as at April 1998. The expected borough-by-borough figures for 1999–2000 are not yet available but it is anticipated that in total there will be 1,000 miles of the network in place by the end of this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish legislation to establish the proposed Strategic Rail Authority. [74419]

If legislative time becomes available, we will introduce a Bill to establish a Strategic Rail Authority this session. If time does not become available, then we will publish a draft Bill later this Session, for introduction as a priority at a subsequent opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will consult the air transport (a) industry and (b) users prior to the Montreal Conference in May; and if he will make a statement on the position to be adopted by the Government at the Conference. [74412]

The International Civil Aviation Organisation will hold a Diplomatic Conference in May for the purpose of adopting a new convention intended to replace all previous instruments of the Warsaw Convention for International Carriage by Air. Officials from my Department have been involved in the development of the new convention and have formally consulted representatives of UK airlines, airline users and principal practitioners in international air law. The views received will be taken into account by the Government at the Conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the subsidy arrangements for the United Kingdom rail industry. [74420]

We are determined to ensure that Railtrack has adequate incentives to perform effectively and efficiently, and to develop the network, meeting the needs of customers and funders. That could point to a proportion of Railtrack's access income being paid direct by the proposed Strategic Rail Authority, rather than via train operators. We have asked the Rail Regulator for a report on this matter.Within the overall context of our plans for the railway, financial responsibility for those passenger services that both start and end in Scotland will be transferred to Scottish Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Rail Summit. [74418]

The Rail Summit was an important step towards our goal of creating within 10 years one of the best railway systems in the world. The passenger train operators and Railtrack share that aim and want to work together—and with government—to realise it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's report "An Assessment of Artificial Radionuclide Transfer from Sellafield to South West Scotland" by Professor Murdoch Baxter, dated March 1989 (reference DOE/RW/89/127. [73824]

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will publish the evidence used by officials of his Department to conclude that the dualling of the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury road (a) will decrease peak time traffic delays by up to 3.5 minutes and (b) may affect the great crested newt; [74340](2) if he will place in the Library copies of the full cost-benefit analysis for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury dualling proposal. [74341]

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on his Department's policies of the goods and services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to be implemented in October 1999. [71271]

We are acting to ensure that the Department's policies meet the needs of disabled people and that we comply with our legal requirements. The Department already takes positive steps to make it easier to disabled people to participate in the arts, sport and leisure pursuits. We shall continue to do so, not only by complying fully with new duties in the Disability Discrimination Act but by aiming to exceed them where appropriate.One of the Department's main objectives is to widen and improve access for disabled people and other groups by embedding consultation and consideration of their needs in mainstream policies, and by means of the funding agreements being negotiated with its sponsored bodies. This includes the need to ensure that our policies and their outcomes comply with the law. This complements the guidance "Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment" which the Cabinet Office issued to all Government Departments in November 1998, and which was signed jointly by my right hon. Friends the Minister for Women, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Home Secretary.The Department's Management Board monitors the Department's performance and that of its sponsored bodies and will publish information on the progress being made in this area, as will other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what provision has been made for the sale of (a) British and (b) other books at the Millennium Experience; [73087](2) what provision will be made inside the Millennium Dome for the sale of books. [64808]

The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is in discussion with a number of publishers through its licensing agency about the production of a range of Millennium Experience books for all ages. These books will be sold through high street bookshops, retailers and through other distribution channels. As regards the Dome, the aim is to provide a range of special edition Millennium Experience books, and other printed material to meet visitor needs. These will be available through the NMEC's own retailing arrangements in the Dome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the members of the Creative Industries Task Force; on how many occasions since its establishment it has met; who was present at each meeting; what its work in progress is; and what conclusions it has reached to date. [72905]

The members of the Creative Industries Task Force are as follows:

Right hon. Chris Smith MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Chairman)

Ministerial and official representatives of:

• The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• The Department of Trade and Industry
• HM Treasury
• The Department for Education and Employment
• The Minister for Women
• The Scottish Office
• The Welsh Office
• The Northern Ireland Office
• The British Council
• The Office of Science and Technology
• No. 10 Policy Unit
• DCMS officials

Industry advisers:

• Lord Alli—Planet 24
• Richard Branson/Robert Devereux—Virgin Group Plc
• Janice Hughes—Spectrum Strategy Consultants
• Alan McGee—Creation Records
• Gail Rebuck—Random House UK Ltd.
• Eric Salama—WPP Group Plc
• Paul Smith—Paul Smith Ltd.
• Charles Allen¹—Granada Group
• Prof. Stephen Heppell¹—Ultralab
• Lord Puttnam (until July 1998)
• ¹Appointed January 1999.

The Creative Industries Task Force has met seven times since its establishment in June 1997. Alongside these seven meetings, there has been extensive contact with individual Task Force members about specific elements of the work programme. Those present at each meeting were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to retain a separate Cumbria tourist board within the north-west region. [73642]

Cumbria Tourist Board, as are other regional tourist boards, is an independent commercial organisation and determines its own boundary. We wish to see the arrangements for all regional bodies continue on a basis which fosters close and co-operative working to support successful and sustainable development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made on the establishment of the UK Sports Institute. [72101]

[holding answer 1 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Mr. Caplin) on 1 March 1999, Official Report, columns 535–37.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will discuss with relevant departments a reduction of the cost of the BBC licence fee to pensioners dependent solely on the state pension. [74043]

[holding answer 2 March 1999]: The independent review panel currently considering the future funding of the BBC has also been asked to examine the structure of the existing concessionary television licence scheme and whether a suitable alternative structure could be available. The panel has invited representations on a number of areas, including the concessionary arrangements, and will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the end of July this years. There will then be a period of public consultation on the panel's recommendations. It would not be right for the Government to preempt the outcome of the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those films which have received lottery funding to date indicating (a) how much lottery money each received, (b) their total budgets, (c) their release dates, (d) the number of screens on which they opened and (e) their takings to date. [74239]

[holding answer 2 March 1999]:There are no data available centrally on the numbers of screens on which lottery-funded films opened and the record of takings of these films is not fully tracked. Some data are available and I have today placed that information together with the other data requested, in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 1999, Official Report, column 517, which Ministers are members of the ministerial group on older people from the various departments he listed. [73694]

Membership of the group comprises those Ministers who have particular responsibilities for policy areas which affect older people. It includes me together with my right hon. and hon. Friends the Lord Privy Seal, the Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham); the Minister of State, Department of Social Security; the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton); the Minister for Transport in London; the Minister for London and Construction; the Minister of State, Home Office, the hon. Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng); the Economic Secretary; the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs; the Minister for the Arts; the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the hon. Member for Barking (Ms Hodge); the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department; the Under-Secretary of State for Defence; the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Galbraith); and the Under-Secretary of State for Wales, the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones).Other Ministers with an interest in a particular subject may also attend meetings of the group from time to time.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will provide a breakdown in (a) numerical and (b) percentage terms of the ethnic origin as of 1 May 1998 to 31 December 1998, of civil servants at each grade; and if he will further break down those of ethnic minority origin at each grade in (i) numerical and (ii) percentage terms into (1) Indian, (2) Pakistani, (3) Bangladeshi, (4) Chinese and (5) other and mixed Asian. [73695]

Provisional information at 1 October 1998, from Mandate, the Cabinet Office's personnel database, is set out in the table. It is not directly comparable to the information in the recently published Equal Opportunities in the Civil Service Data Summary which is based on staff in post at 1 April 1998. The table excludes staff in departments who do not provide data to Mandate. However, both the Data Summary and the table show that 5.7 per cent. of all staff were from ethnic minority groups.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the 1998 Next Steps report. [75077]

The Government have today published the 1998 Next Steps Report, Cm 4273, which has been laid in both Houses. This Report brings together performance and trend data on 136 executive agencies and two departments operating on Next Steps lines.The Report shows that overall nearly 76 per cent. of targets were achieved and that, where comparisons can be made with previous years, performance against targets has improved in 52 per cent. of cases.With the introduction of Public Service Agreements (PSAs), Government have set out in precise and quantified form what improvements it is seeking to achieve over the next 3 years. Agencies will have a very important part to play in helping Ministers deliver those results. Agencies' objectives and targets are being redefined to ensure that they reflect the Government's new objectives and priorities. The degree of challenge which is built in to the PSA targets will help to ensure that agency targets are themselves set at a sufficiently stretching level, encouraging agencies to be innovative and enterprising in tackling improvement.The Government will be publishing before Easter a White Paper on "Modernising Government" which will set out a vision for the future of public services. One of its main themes will be the need to increase co-operation across traditional bureaucratic boundaries so that public services can be delivered more cost-effectively and be better tuned to the needs of the user. Agencies, as the main service delivery arm of the Civil Service, will have a vital role to play in fostering this growth in co-operative solutions.It is essential that continuous pressure be applied to improve individual agency performance but this must be seen increasingly within the context of contribution to broader goals.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with non-Governmental organisations about the relief of developing countries' debt. [74030]

In February, I met the directors of the voluntary organisations which comprise the British Overseas Aid Group (BOAG)—ActionAid, Oxfam, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid and Save the Children Fund—to discuss debt. In December, I also met BOND, which represents the smaller NGOs. We agreed that poverty reduction remains our central concern, and that we need to develop and strengthen the link between debt relief and poverty reduction. The UK is pressing for this issue to be considered during the fundamental review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, which is now underway. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are holding a consultation meeting, including NGOs, in London on 5 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's role in drawing up the recent joint ministerial written statement on genetically modified food. [74280]

My Department was not involved in drawing up the recent joint ministerial written statement on genetically modified food which focused on concerns within UK and Europe.We will be publishing a paper later this month on our work relating to genetically modified organisms and how we propose to assist developing countries to strengthen their capacity to handle these important issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research has been (a) carried out and (b) commissioned by her Department into the economic impact of the growing of genetically modified crops on small-scale farmers in developing countries. [74283]

Total DFID bilateral programme to Southern African countries
£000
	Botswana	Lesotho	Namibia	South Africa	Swaziland	Total
1987–88	7,302	3,993	1,421	3,109	2,487	18,312
1988–89	6,886	5,356	2,129	5,040	3,099	22,510
1989–90	7,113	5,497	2,056	5,423	2,764	22,853
1990–91	6,916	5,859	1,706	8,093	2,733	25,307
1991–92	8,963	6,454	2,366	9,325	2,943	30,051
1992–93	7,199	7,194	3,637	11,558	3,296	32,884
1993–94	6,123	5,379	2,979	14,504	3,087	32,072
1994–95	5,247	5,124	3,569	15,631	2,574	32,145
1995–96	4,005	6,600	4,148	16,865	2,086	33,704
1996–97	4,247	3,911	4,092	18,133	2,733	33,116
1997–98	4,115	4,985	4,482	24,889	3,447	41,918

My Department has not carried out any research into the economic impact of growing genetically modified crops on small-scale farmers in developing countries. However we have commissioned relevant studies from University of Birmingham and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, to assess the environmental and social risks of introducing new or transgenic plant types into the traditional pigeon pea seed production systems of small-scale farmers in India and, from University of Swansea, to undertake social and economic assessments of the potential impact of genetically male tilapia and transgenic tilapia on fish fanning in Philippines.The results of these studies will be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the likely impact on (a) indigenous and (b) local communities in developing countries of EU Patent Directive COM (95) 661 as it relates to intellectual property rights in genetic resources. [74494]

The European Directive on the Legal Protection of Biological Inventions (98/44/EC) addresses which biotechnological inventions can be patented in Europe and does not affect national patent laws elsewhere.In reaching a Common Position by the Council of Ministers in February 1998, the UK made a statement noting that there had been no consideration as to whether the provisions of the Directive would be appropriate for other countries outside the European Union, in particular developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the financial aid from her Department and its predecessor in each of the past 10 years to Southern Africa for (a) education and (b) health projects. [73912]

The Department for International Development (DFID) does not provide financial aid in the form of budgetary support to governments in Southern Africa. Our partnerships in this region fund technical co-operation to build local capacity and make effective use of national resources.DFID's contribution to education and health over the last ten years in Southern Africa is as follows:

Education sector expenditure
£000
	Botswana	Lesotho	Namibia	South Africa	Swaziland	Total
1987–88	1,420	345	285	130	593	2,772
1988–89	1,578	654	387	292	462	3,373
1989–90	1,732	669	346	2,530	488	5,765
1990–91	1,713	939	679	3,769	582	7,681
1991–92	1,982	1,219	1,197	4,269	663	9,330
1992–93	2,203	1,112	1,433	6,466	589	11,803
1993–94	1,933	785	1,141	5,557	416	9,832
1994–95	1,183	616	1,838	5,103	362	9,101
1995–96	707	715	1,553	4,231	183	7,390
1996–97	830	978	1,514	1,850	228	5,399
1997–98	1645	1560	11,675	14,872	1300	18,052

Health and population sector expenditure
£000
	Botswana	Lesotho	Namibia	South Africa	Swaziland	Total
1987–88	90	53	0	0	55	198
1988–89	195	73	0	467	71	806
1989–90	290	303	88	1,033	143	1,857
1990–91	380	553	585	1,452	167	3,137
1991–92	224	323	242	630	207	1,625
1992–93	182	230	409	1,229	200	2,250
1993–94	50	114	511	1,263	122	2,060
1994–95	-6	6	338	2,297	41	2,677
1995–96	-5	16	254	1,482	19	1,766
1996–97	0	26	728	4,043	78	4,875
1997–98	11	1261	1536	13,712	12	14,512
1Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of (a) the PHARE programme and (b) the TACIS programme. [73278]

[holding answer 25 February 1999]:(a) The European Commission has started consultations on new guidelines for the PHARE programme from 2000. We will be seeking to ensure the programme responds to the priority needs of countries preparing for accession to the European Union, addresses the quality of the transition process so that benefits are sustainable and brings benefits to all levels of society, includes effective measures to strengthen institutions and promote better public administration and draws from previous experience in ensuring funds are efficiently and effectively used.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much debt each of the 10 most highly-indebted countries repaid in each of the last three years. [73618]

I have been asked to reply.The table shows (£millions) debt repayments received by the UK in the last three years from the 10 countries identified by the IMF as potentially eligible for assistance under its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative that have the highest absolute levels of debt.

£ million
Country	1996–97	1997–98	1998/February 1999
Angola	0	0	0
Cameroon	0.14	1.70	1.13
Cote d'Ivoire	0.43	0.11	0.26
DR Congo	0	0	0
Ethiopia	0.15	0.44	0.56
Kenya	6.04	8.00	11.58
Sudan	0	0	0
Tanzania	24.00	4.00	8.17
Vietnam	1.05	0.73	0.85
Zambia	0	1.84	1.00

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of expenditure on (a) ministerial pay, (b) ministerial domestic transport and (c) other ministerial expenses in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98, (iii) 1998–99 and (iv) 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [69263]

[holding answer 8 February 19991: The table shows expenditure on Ministerial pay. The table also shows total non-pay expenditure for Ministerial offices. The amounts include travel and subsistence, office services and general administration costs for both Ministers and the staff of their offices. It is not possible to disaggregate these amounts into the categories requested. Expenditure for 1999–2000 cannot be forecast at present since this will depend on decisions about the number of Scottish Ministers who form the incoming devolved administration and about the future structure of the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

£
	Ministerial pay	Ministerial offices non-pay
1996–97	181,917	934,305
1997–98	213,431	1,075,115
1998–991	220,600	1,207,000
1Estimate

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many community psychiatric nurses there were in Scotland in each of the last three years. [73229]

The information is set out in the table.

Community psychiatric nurses employed in the NHS in Scotland. Headcount and Whole Time Equivalent: at 30 September
	Community psychiatric nurse
Number
1996	468
1997	507
19981	518
WTE
1996	449.3
1997	484.6
19981	493.9
1Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses were admitted for a hospital stay more than once during the last year in Scotland. [73233]

The number of individual patients with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses admitted to mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units in Scotland during the year ending 31 March 1996 was 2,482, of which 675 were admitted more than once.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a breakdown of spending planned on other public services as set out in his answer of 17 July 1998, Official Report, columns 336–40, in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01, (d) 2001–02 and (e) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [74338]

A detailed breakdown of the figures for 1998–99 to 2001–02 was placed in the library of the House of Commons on 10 November 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his estimates of planned expenditure on Scottish roads for each of the years (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03; if he will list for each of these years every project costing over £2 million over its project life; and if he will make a statement. [74241]

Expenditure on local roads is the responsibility of local authorities and details are not held centrally. The planned net expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in Scotland in 2000–01 and 2001–02, the latest year for which expenditure has been agreed, is £175.8 million and £186.2 million respectively. Our priorities are to maintain and repair the existing network and to meet the costs of projects contractually committed or announced. Project costs exceed £2 million on the A720, the M6, the A7 (Hawick Relief Road) and the A90 (Inchmichael Interchange). Further projects may be announced later.From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the causes of the increase in planned expenditure by Scottish Enterprise between 2000–01 and 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [74243]

The increase in the planned expenditure by Scottish Enterprise between 2000–01 and 2001–02 primarily reflects the phased introduction of a number of new training initiatives announced by the Government last year as part of the New Deal and a re-instatement of provision for the delayed Hyundai project.From 1 July the funding of Scottish Enterprise will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those ministers in his Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity; and who or what organisation was acting as their sponsor or host. [73492]

The Minister of State, Home Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng), attended the Brit Awards Ceremony on 23 February, as guest of the Director General of the British Phonographic Industry Ltd., the representative body of the British Record Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73665]

The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards integration of fire, police and ambulance control rooms. [73500]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Ms Lawrence) on 13 January 1999, Official Report,columns 193–96. £7.8 million has been provided to the Department of Health under the Invest to Save Budget for pilot joint call handling centres.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving police officers there were in the London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames (a) on 1 May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date. [73927]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that he is unable to give the information in the form requested, as records are not broken down by the number of officers policing the London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. The nearest figures that can be provided are those for Kingston Division, which polices the London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames together with half of the Borough of Elmbridge.The relevant statistics are recorded within the Metropolitan police, twice yearly, at 1 January and 1 July. The number of serving police officers in Kingston Division on 1 July 1997 was 355. As at 1 March 1999, the number was 336.7.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what issues are being considered by the Departmental working party on electoral procedures; when it will report to ministers; what account it has taken of the recent report from the Select Committee on Home Affairs (HC 768) of Session 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [74314]

My working party on electoral procedures is currently considering a wide range of issues, under the following broad headings:

• maximising electoral registration and voter participation;
• access by the disabled and homeless to the electoral process;
• rolling electoral registration;
• publication and sale of the electoral register;
• anonymous electoral registration;
• absent voting arrangements;
• polling station and count venue issues (including location, mobile and early polling stations, and security);
• automated voting/counting;
• days and times of polling;
• use of official poll cards, and publicity for elections; civics education and the electoral process; and the role of an electoral commission.

The Government have welcomed the report of the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into electoral law and administration as a valuable contribution to the continuing debate about improving participation in our electoral and democratic processes. The Committee acknowledged that my working party is the correct forum within which to take forward consideration of its proposals, conclusions and recommendations; and accepted that it would be difficult to give a full response while my working party continued to meet. I now anticipate that the final report of the working party will be published this summer, and that the Committee will receive its detailed response at around the same time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government expects to announce the outcome of its review of international human rights instruments. [75118]

I am placing in the Library a summary of the conclusions of the review.On 27 January, I signed the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. We shall also ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, without any reservation to preserve the use of the death penalty in wartime.We shall ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 111 on discrimination in employment.We intend to ratify the Seventh Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as soon as Parliament removes inconsistencies in our family law provisions. We will seek a suitable opportunity to propose those changes. We are also considering whether legislation is necessary to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Fourth Protocol to the ECHR.We shall look again at the rights of individual petition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the United Nationals Convention Against Torture and the Union Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination once the Human Rights Act has been fully implemented. We have looked closely at the merits of adopting these additional rights, but have also taken in account the impact on the vital work of preparing for and implementing the Human Rights Act 1998. This is a major piece of legislation that demonstrates our commitment to the advancement of human rights.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reviewing the future role of the Fire Service College. [75119]

The Government are committed to securing best value for money through regular and systematic reviews of the services which its agencies provide and how these are delivered.In view of the continuing poor financial performance as a trading fund of the Fire Service College at Moreton in Marsh, I have decided to commission an immediate prior options review. This will consider the College's present and future role in helping meet the requirements for central training in the fire service. The review will evaluate the performance of the Agency and will also re-appraise the prior options considered before the College was established as a trading fund, taking account of developments since that time. Should Ministers agree that agency status remains the most appropriate option, the review will bring forward recommendations for future development and funding including any necessary revisions to the College's Framework Document.The review will be conducted by officials from the man Home Office working, among others, with Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. Views are welcomed from all interested parties. The review is expected to report in the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of providing full police protection to an individual whose life has been threatened. [74477]

It is not the practice to publish this information as it provides an indication of the level of protection being provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries currently considered to be in upheaval for the purpose of determining asylum claims. [73889]

There is no country or territory currently subject to a declaration of upheaval under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996. Declarations were made in respect of Sierra Leone on 1 July 1997 and the Democratic Republic of Congo on 17 May 1998. These expired after three months.The purpose of such declarations is to ensure that people who find themselves in the United Kingdom at the point when there is a change of circumstances in their home country, of the kind envisaged in the Regulations, are not disadvantaged in terms of access to income support and related benefits if they make an in-country asylum application with reasonable promptness. Three months is the period considered to be reasonable for this purpose. A declaration of upheaval does not, in itself, carry any implication for the determination of asylum applications from the country or territory concerned. The need for this procedure would cease to exist under the scheme of support for asylum seekers contained in Park VI of the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers under the age of 18 years are currently detained. [73782]

At 14.00 on 1 March 1999 there were 2 people who are 17 years of age in detention; awaiting removal to Belgium in the near future. Another person in detention is claiming to be 17 years old but his age is in dispute.